Flexible and hybrid working could open up the jobs market to almost four million people, research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research has suggested.
In a study produced with Virgin Media O2, the CEBR argues that new working practices emerging as a result of the pandemic could add £48 billion to the UK economy each year.
It would enable 3.8 billion parents, disabled people and carers to work around their other responsibilities rather than being “locked out” of certain roles. It breaks this down into 1.2 million parents, 1.5 million people with disabilities, 500,000 with caring responsibilities and 600,000 others who would be able to access work.
Almost half of those currently out of work would be able to resume employment on a remote basis, the report argues.
Part-time employees could earn an extra £3,600 every year, while people who act as informal carers could work up to seven additional hours per week. This would earn them an additional £4,800 annually.
In addition, investment in technologies to support hybrid working would add £76bn to the UK economy by 2025, and £236bn by 2040, it predicts.
Nina Skero, chief executive of the CEBR, said investment in digitisation and hybrid approaches could “fundamentally transform the economy – unlocking a massive GDP uplift, boosting productivity and building a more inclusive society”.
Hybrid working
Madeleine Starr, director of business development and innovation at Carers UK, said 600 people per day had been forced to give up work to care for a loved one prior to the pandemic.
“However, one positive outcome from the pandemic has been working carers benefiting from remote and flexible working arrangements that have enabled them to juggle their paid job with their caring responsibilities,” she added.
“Many carers do want to continue working alongside their caring role – enabling them to use their skills, maintain social connections and improve their financial stability both in the short and the long term.”
CEBR and Virgin Media O2 also polled managers on their feelings about hybrid working, finding that 69% felt changes made due to Covid-19 would be made permanent.
The majority of employees found that remote working practices offered them a better work-life balance, with most expecting to work from home 2.5 days per week. Company leaders expected a similar mix, with 2.3 days the average WFH expectation.
The research has been released before the expected launch of a government consultation tomorrow (Thursday 23 September) on a day-one right to request flexible working.
It also follows a huge reaction to a LinkedIn post from a recruitment company boss, who claimed that people wanting to work from home were “lazy, spoilt and entitled”.
James Cox, founder of Chelsea Personnel, accused home workers of wanting to feed squirrels and watch the daytime programme Loose Women rather than coming into the office.
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His post attracted 3,000 comments and the business has received dozens of calls of complaint from angry readers.
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